Morning Whispers

Anna bounced on her bed at Moon Shining Orphanage, her blonde pigtails swinging as she peered out the tall window. Today was haircut day! Her moon pendant caught the morning light.

"Wake up, sleepyheads!" she called to her friends across the dormitory.

Sabrina sat up first, her dark hair messy from sleep. "Is it really today?"

"Finally!" Mandy squealed, jumping down from her bunk.

Juliana stretched and grinned. "I can't wait to get my bangs trimmed."

Michelle was already brushing her brown hair. "The boys are going to hate this."

Down the hall, they could hear shuffling and grumbling from the boys' room. Anna giggled as she heard Ollie's worried voice through the walls.

"Where's Blaze?" Sabrina whispered, looking toward the boys' section. "I haven't seen him all morning."

The Missing Boys

Anna and her friends rushed down the hallway toward the common room, their excitement bubbling over. But as they rounded the corner, they nearly crashed into Mrs. Baker, the orphanage's head caretaker, who was carrying a large cardboard box.

"Whoa there, girls!" Mrs. Baker laughed, steadying the box. "The barber won't be here for another hour."

"Where are all the boys?" Sabrina asked, looking around the empty common room.

Mrs. Baker sighed. "Hiding, as usual. Blaze locked himself in his room this morning. Michael crawled under his bed. And Jack..." She shook her head. "He's somewhere in the building with hair so messy I can barely see his eyes."

Just then, a muffled crash came from upstairs.